How to Shoot Great Staff Photos for Your Website

Deciding to have a plastic surgery procedure is a huge decision for anyone, and finding a doctor who makes people feel safe and comfortable is a top priority. Potential patients can spend months scouring dozens of plastic surgeon websites looking for the perfect fit. While an impressive curriculum vitae and extensive patient photo gallery can attract business, it can take a lot to gain a patient’s trust. It is extremely important for doctor pages and features to appeal to patients on both a professional and personal level, starting with high-quality doctor and staff portraits.

A common obstacle Etna designers encounter while creating a site is working with a dated doctor photo that lacks the photographic characteristics necessary to aesthetically match the new Web design. Your website is getting an updated, fresh, and polished look, and your doctor portraits should reflect this, as well! Fortunately, we have created a concise guide for doctors and their practices to follow when planning to shoot new portraits.

Some general guidelines to adhere to include:

Quality: Hire a professional photographer. Professional photographers will already have a strong knowledge of lighting and positioning, as well as access to high-quality equipment to make you and your staff look your best. Professional portraits can be used for years, and the investment is definitely worth it.

Lighting: Use plenty of ambient (natural) light and avoid heavy shadows, especially around the eyes and neck.

Composition: Do not crop any part of the upper body out of the frame (shoulders, top of head, elbows, etc.) Everything above the waist should be completely visible. Avoid leaning on anything, especially walls. It is very important to have the entire upper body visible so the designer can clip out the figure from any setting and place them on a different background — such as a solid color, texture, or office room in soft focus.

Clothing: Have a variety of outfits to create interest and versatility. Wear scrubs or a lab coat, a professional outfit (including a tie), and an outfit you would be seen wearing around the office. Avoid strong patterns (with the exception of an interesting tie), and try to incorporate brighter colors.

Setting – Shoot against light, solid backgrounds. You can also show the building exterior, office, or operating room in soft focus (shallow depth of field.)

Take a look at some of our favorite doctor photos that successfully exemplify the rules above and were flawlessly integrated into their site designs: